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YB Workshops/SEIC Enrollment
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The YouthBridge Workshops and
Social Entrepreneurship and
Innovation Competition (SEIC)
The YouthBridge Workshops and SEIC are open to all nonprofits, both new ventures and new activities by existing organizations. It is a nine-month program held at Washington University in St. Louis which:
- Teaches a variety of business skills targeted at a nonprofit audience
- Is free and open to all
- Develops a framework for evaluation
- Invites collaboration among judges, mentors, advisors, social investors and sponsors
- Causes ongoing social innovation that is measurable
- Creates a sustainable competition - the largest in the U.S.
- Offers an opportunity to compete for funding
To enroll in the YouthBridge Workshops: www.ideabounce.com/contact/events.php
To enroll in the YouthBridge SEIC: www.sc.wustl.edu/seic/enter.html
History
In June, 2005, YouthBridge and Washington University's Skandalaris Center each pledged $500,000 to fund a five-year initiative to develop a program to stimulate social entrepreneurship. The program, then called the Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition, is an opportunity for nonprofits to learn business skills, collaborate, receive feedback and compete annually for more than $100,00 in awards. We invite other universities, institutions, community groups and foundations to join us in the SEIC as we search for innovative approaches to social problems.
The YouthBridge definition of social entrepreneurship is "using entrepreneurial skills to craft innovative processes, approaches, and solutions to help resolve social issues." [see more] Such new approaches are designed to enhance sustainability and increase capacity of mission-based social organizations beyond their traditional dependence on philanthropy and government subsidy by building capital and developing an earned income stream.
During the past five years, the YouthBridge SEIC
has made 23 awards totaling $480,000, including $5,000 student awards each year
presented to the best student-founded or supported venture. The 42 YouthBridge SEIC entrants from
2009 included a diverse range of ventures with missions to provide educational,
cultural and vocational training. Additional sponsors to the YouthBridge SEIC
include the Incarnate Word Foundation, the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis and the Daughters of Charity Foundation of St. Louis.
Renewed Program
Commitment
In
August, 2009, YouthBridge renewed its partnership with Washington
University's
Skandalaris
Center
for Entrepreneurial Studies to fund the annual SEIC with an additional $450,000
pledge. YouthBridge has been a major sponsor of the competition for
nonprofit, community-based ventures since its inception in 2005. The
newly named YouthBridge SEIC is unique in St. Louis, and in terms of monetary awards, is the largest competition in the United States.
The
YouthBridge commitment is helping to build the innovation environment around
social issues in St.
Louis,” says Ken Harrington, Director of the Skandalaris
Center.
“The free workshops and the speakers we offer, thanks to YouthBridge, get
people thinking about new business models to help them meet their
mission. They offer unique opportunities for people to connect and help
each other.”
For Additional Information
Please contact Rex Reed, Executive Director, Agency Services, at 314-985-6777 or rexr@youthbridge.org if you would like more information on this program.
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